Atlanta Tennis Championships names Bob Bryant tournament director

Bob Bryant has been named tournament director of the Atlanta Tennis Championships, which will be played at the Racquet Club of the South in Norcross, GA July 18-24, 2011.  Bryant, 47, replaces Bill Oakes, who left in January to run the Winston-Salem (NC) Open, a new ATP event formerly held in New Haven, CT, that will immediately precede the U.S. Open.

Some excerpts from the article posted on the US Open Series website:

USTA Southern President Mike McNulty said, "We are excited to have Bob on board. He has the experience, expertise and a proven track record to be a tremendous Director of Marketing and Sales and Tournament Director of the Atlanta Tennis Championships" and John Callen, USTA Southern Executive Director added, "Bryant brings the expertise that will help us move forward promoting tennis in the South through our section’s Marketing and Sales departments."

Bryant said, "I am delighted to promote the game and serve the membership of USTA Southern.  Atlanta is clearly a tennis town and I look forward to building on the foundation of the Atlanta Tennis Championships established by USTA Southern as we move to Racquet Club of the South and welcome the ATP World Tour and the greatest professional tennis players in the world as part of the Olympus US Open Series. I could not be more excited."

Bryant's appointment is subject to ATP approval. A decision is expected at the tour's board meeting next month.